Flaco’s Legacy

This compelling music history traces the journey of conjunto from its Texas-Mexico borderland origins as a vibrant dance music to its current global reach, following the genre through three distinct globalization processes. Bauer meticulously documents how migration via media, hybridization, and appropriation transformed this regional sound into an international phenomenon, using masters like Flaco Jiménez and Mingo Saldívar as touchstones for understanding the music's evolution from local tradition to worldwide appeal.

What makes this study particularly valuable is its nuanced examination of how cultural forms travel and transform while maintaining their core identity. Bauer doesn't just celebrate conjunto's global popularity but critically analyzes the mechanisms behind its spread, making this essential reading for anyone interested in music migration, cultural appropriation debates, or Latinx musical heritage. The book ultimately reveals how a regional sound can become both a global commodity and a lasting cultural legacy.